Climbing Frame Safety Testing

Selwood Products are renowned for our quality climbing frames, play systems and outdoor toys. With everything designed and tested to EN-71 and ASTM Safety Testing Standards, and manufactured to our own high standards we can guarantee you are getting superb products at fantastic prices.

Our products are rigorously tested by a team of experienced product integrity staff at an independent QA lab. We do constant product evaluation and testing to ensure product quality and to support and comply with the government compliance regulations.

Parts from Asia are inspected by full-time mill quality inspectors or Bureau Veritas before shipping. Many batches then undergo a second inspection in North-America, as parts are subject to numerous tests by the quality control department in Canada before they are released.

Wood Tolerance Testing

The wood is tested in tolerance machine where an increasing load is gradually applied until failure. A figure can then be obtained to showing the maximum safe load that can be transferred through the material.

This ensure that all of the components for our wooden climbing frames are strong enough to withstand multiple children playing at once, and durable enough to last for the entire warranty period and beyond.

Torsion Testing

The bolts and screws are tested in the torsional tolerance machine, where an increasing load is gradually applied until failure. A figure can then be obtained to showing the maximum safe load that can be transferred through the material. This enables us to ensure the bolts and screws are strong enough to withstand the forces exerted on them as they are screwed into the wood.

This may sound like a very simple thing, but imagine if bolts kept breaking as you were trying to build the set, it would be exceedingly frustrating and time consuming. We do this to ensure the bolts last, and ensure home-build is as easy as possible.

Rope Strength Testing

A section of rope is loaded between two opposing braces which gradually move apart until failure. This places load on to the rope and provides a value for safe load dissipation during use.

Our swings all come with rope, so this test ensures our swing ropes are strong enough to hold children whilst they swing. Ensuring children's safety when swinging and climbing is paramount to our design, safety testing and manufacturing process.

Ultraviolet Testing

Small sections of the various different materials utilised in making the frames are subjected to ultraviolet rays to ascertain how they will react to expose over time when exposed to the real world environment.

This ensure that our vinyl tarp roof's, cafe table wraps, and chalk walls all last as long as the set is needed. We also test our slides, hand-grips and swing seats to ensure they have sufficient UV resistance.

A lack of resistance can mean the product weathers faster, making plastic and vinyl brittle and more likely to peel, crack or split.

Stretch Testing

Our fabrics utilised in roofing or shelter screens are tested to failure by a special stretch test machine. A piece of fabric is loaded between two braces and an increasing load is placed upon the fabric to ascertain the strength.

The stretch test ensures that our Vinyl roof's can withstand normal weather conditions for the years the climbing frame will be in your garden.

Pressure Testing

The component is tested in tolerance machine where an increasing load is gradually applied until failure. A figure can then be obtained to showing the maximum safe load that can be transferred through the material.

We use this test to ensure metal and wood components can withstand the pressure of multiple children playing over many years.

Join our Selwood.com mailing list

Visit our Google+ page or signup now to stay up-to-date with the latest news, hottest trends and new arrivals direct to your inbox.